Trolley-wheel



J. E. SEDERHOLM.

TROLLEY WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6, 19m.

Patented Oct. 12,1920.

' I INSULATION z c Q Wmw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E, SEDEBHOLM, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT A1\l'D MESNE I ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO ENOCH N. HOLSTROM, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

'rRoLLEY-wnnnn Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

Application filed. October 6, 1919. Serial No. 328,889.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. SnDERHoL-M,

skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in trolley wheels and it has more particular reference to the mounting therefor, it being especially designed for use on cranes, although it is not to be restricted to such use.

Trolley wheels now in use on cranes are ineffective in transmitting current from the trolley wire to the motors because of poor contact between the bearing pin and wheel. By reason of this fact alternating currents oftentimes become unbalanced in the, different phases, thus causing them in many cases to run on single phase, and in this way burn the motor out. On direct current circuits had contact means inrushes, and heavy currents, thereby damaging the motor. The present trolley wheels also wear unevenly against the bearing pin, which thus causes them to cant and cause poor contact. This means that the wheel oftentimes jumps the trolley wire, and sometimes wears the trolley wire through.

It is therefore the object of this invention to provide a trolley wheel and mounting therefor which is of such construction that it will overcome, to a great extent, the above mentioned defects.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated which is simple in construction, strong, durable, efiective in use, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like- Fig. 2 is a section on the plane of the line 22 of Fig. 1. a citizen of the United States, residing at Fig. 3 is a section on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: is a detail view of the contact brush.

Fig. 5 is a transverse view on the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention the numeral 1 designates a bearing pin upon which the trolley 2 is mounted for rotation. This bearing pin is provided with a longitudinal bore 3 adjacent one of its ends, and as shown its length is equal to approximately one half of the entire length of the pin 1. Longitudinally slidable in the bore 3 is a contact brush 4 which is pressed outward by the action of the coiled spring 5, also fitted in said bore. In order to prevent annealing of the spring 5 by the current that might otherwise pass through it, I interpose an insulating member 6 between the brush and spring. This brush 4: is preferably in the form of a hollow splitsleeve and is provided at one of its ends with a solid portion or head 7, and this head normallyprojects beyond the open end of the bore 3,01, in other words, beyond the end of the pin 1. The opposite end of the brush 4 is of a slightly greater diameter at 8 than the already mentioned end and this serves to re- 1, as is opening 9 which extends transversely therethrough. One end of this opening is closed by a removable cap or closure 10 which is providedwith a'socket 11 to receive the head 8 of the brush therein. The other end of the opening 9 is closed by a removable plate 12 which is held in a closed position by a thick circular wire member 13 which fits into an annular groove in the wheel 2 as shown.

A series of ball bearings 14 are interposed between the cap 10 and plate 12 and serve to reduce friction between the parts. These ball bearings are held in a ball retainer 15 and the whole device is positioned between the longitudinally grooved bushings or collars 16. In order to prevent current from passing through the ball bearings and causing them to deteriorate, I employ aning a wholenew device.

that is different sizes of conductor shank other bushing or collar 17 of insulating material which is fixed on the pin 1 and also serves to retain the wheel 2 on the pin 1, as is obvious. V The electrical conductor shank (not 7 shown) which furnishes themotors of the crane with current is connected to the pin 1 between the flange 18 and nut 19 and is thus prevented from bearing against the wheel and loosening it from the pin 1. I

In use the current passes from the trolley wire through the wheel 2, through cap 10, through the brush 4 which is pressed into contact with cap 10, and then through the pin 1. When it is desired to insert a new brush it is only necessary to remove cap 10 which is employed for that purpose. On the other hand when it is desired to replace the ball 1 bearings 14 or bushing 16, it will be necessary only to contract the wire retainer 13 and remove it from thegroovein which it is seated, whereby the plate 12 may be readily removed. 1

Although there will be considerable wear between the head 8 of the brush and the socket 11, it will'be seen that the spring 5 will always keep them in tightcontact.

A device'of the above described construction is effective in use in that any one of or all of the parts may be easily and readily renewed, thereby saving the expense of buy- It is adjustable,

mayibe effectively connected to the bearing pin 1 because of its construction. Friction between the parts is greatly reduced thus preventing excessive wear of the parts.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred form of the same,

and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

' Havingthusidescribed my invention and best way known to me of making and using the same, I' claim 7 e I 1. A'device of the character set. forth comprising a bearing pin having a longitumy hand.

dinal bore therein, a spring pressed contact brush longitudinally slidable in said bore, and a trolley wheel mounted forrotation on said pin, said brush contacting'with a part of said wheel to permit an electrical curpass therethro'ugh, substantially as rent to set fort 2; A device of the character set forth comprising a bearing pin having a longitudinal bore adjacent one of its ends, a coiled spring in said bore, a slidable contact brush in said bore, an isulating member interposed between said coiled spring and brush, a trolley wheel mounted for rotation on said bearing pin, said brush contacting with a part of said wheelto permit an electrical current to'pass through said wheel, brush electrical current to pass through said wheel,

brush and bearing pin, as set forth.

4; A device of the character set forth comprising a bearing pin having a longitudinal bore therein adjacentone of its ends, a longitudinally slidable spring pressed contact brush in said bore, said brushnormally projecting'beyond one end of'said' bearing pin, a trolley wheel mounted for rotation on said bearing pin, said wheel having an enlarged opening extending transversely said opening, said cap having a socket therein adapted to receive the projecting'end of said brush, a removable plate closing the-op posite end of said opening, means to retain said plate in position, and anti-friction m'eans disposed between said cap and plate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I havehereunto set JOHN E. SEDERHOLM.

there through, a removable cap closing one end of 

